Scaevola plant named Fancy

ABSTRACT

A distinctive cultivar of Scaevola plant named Fancy, characterized by its symmetrical, spreading and compact growth habit with short internodes; fast-growing long branches; long leaves; early flowering; numerous flowers per plant; weather-resistant and long-lasting flowers; large flower size; intense blue-violet petal color with narrow white band at petals&#39; base and yellow area at top of flower throat; and pleasant fragrance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Scaevolaplant, botanically known as Scaevola aemula, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name Fancy.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Sudlohn, Germany. The objective of the breeding programwas to develop varieties that are more compact in growth habit, flowerearly, and have numerous flowers per plant.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of a wildform of Scaevola aemula as the male or pollen parent with thenonpatented Scaevola aemula variety Lazuli as the female or seed parent.

The cultivar Fancy was discovered and selected by the inventor in April,1993, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in acontrolled environment in Sudlohn, Germany. Subsequent asexualreproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Sudlohn,Germany, has shown that the unique features of this new Scaevola arestabilized and reproduced true to type in successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of Fancy. These characteristics incombination distinguish the new Scaevola as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Symmetrical, spreading and compact growth habit with shortinternodes. Plant shape is appropriate for hanging basket containers andchemical growth retardant treatments are usually not required.

2. Fast-growing long branches.

3. Long leaves.

4. Early flowering.

5. Numerous flowers per plant.

6. Weather-resistant and long-lasting flowers.

7. Large flower size.

8. Intense blue-violet petal color with narrow white band at petals'base and yellow area at top of flower throat.

9. Pleasant fragrance.

In comparison to the parents of the new Scaevola, plants of Fancy aremore compact in growth habit, have larger flowers, and flowers aredarker blue-violet in color.

The new Scaevola is most similar to the Scaevola aemula cultivar BlueWonder, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,929. Fancy differs from BlueWonder in the following characteristics:

1. The start of flowering occurs earlier on plants of Fancy compared toplants of Blue Wonder.

2. Flowers of plants of Fancy are larger than flowers of plants of BlueWonder.

3. Flowers of plants of Fancy are slightly lighter in flower colorcompared to flowers of plants of Blue Wonder.

4. Flowers of plants of Fancy have a much narrower white band at thebase of the petals compared to flowers of plants of Blue Wonder.

A detailed comparison of Fancy and Blue Wonder plants appears in Chart Aat the end of the specification.

The new Scaevola has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light level and daylength, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand flower color of the new Scaevola, showing the colors as true as itis reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical plantof the new Scaevola grown in Sudlohn, Germany.

The second photograph comprises a close-up view of a typical flowerstem. The flower color appears lighter than the actual flower color inthis photograph due to light reflectance.

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Sudlohn, Germany.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Scaevola aemula cultivar Fancy.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Wild form of Scaevola aemula.

Female or seed parent.--Scaevola aemula variety Lazuli.

Propagation:

Type cuttings.--Terminal cuttings or by tissue culture.

Rooting habit.--Numerous, fibrous, and freely branching.

Plant description:

Form.--Symmetrical and spreading, suitable for hanging basketcontainers.

Growth habit.--Compact yet moderately vigorous. Axillary shoots developat leaf axils on non-flowering stems. Leaf axils on flowering stems donot produce axially shoots.

Axillary shoot description.--Aspect; Semi-upright, prostrate orsemi-pendulous. Length: Generally 50 cm. Internode length: 1 to 2 cm.Diameter: 3 to 4 mm. Color: Olive green to purple depending onanthocyanin level. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.

Foliage description.--Size: Length: 6 to 8 cm. Width: 2 to 3 cm. Shape:Spatulate. Margin: Slightly serrated at leaf base and becoming stronglyserrated towards leaf tip. Color, upper side: 137B to 137C.

Flower description:

Flower type and shape.--Semi-circular, fan-shaped flowers with fivepetals fused at their bases to form a tubular flower throat. Flowerthroat open along the upper side exposing reproductive organs. Flowerssessile.

Flower arrangement.--Flowers arise from leaf axils with one flower peraxil.

Perianth.--Aspect: Fan-shaped, flat. Diameter: 3.5 to 4 cm. Venation:Parallel to midrib of each petal. Color: Upper surface: Violet-blue,90D. Under surface: Violet-blue, 90D. Venation: Darker violet-blue, 90C.

Petals.--Quantity: Five. Shape: Oblanceolate. Tips: Mucronate.

Flower throat.--Length: About 1.5 cm. Color of throat opening: Narrowwhite band at base of petals with yellow area at top of flower throatand purple stripes radiating from the throat.

Reproductive organs.--Ovary: Shape: Elongate. Length: 1 to 2 mm. Color:Green. Pistil: Appearance: Broad with purplish hairs 2 mm in length.Aspect: Slightly bent. Length: 1.2 to 1.5 cm. Tip: Bent downwards.Color: Upper surface: Purple. Lower surface: Green. Tip: Yellowishwhite. Anthers: Length: 1 to 2 mm. Color: Initially yellow and becomingbrown with development. Filaments: Protrude from flower throat and are 3to 5 mm in length.

Disease resistance: No resistance or susceptibility to diseasesobserved.

Weather tolerance: Very tolerant of rain and adverse weather conditions,flowers long-lasting.

Seed production: Seed production is generally not observed.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        CHARACTERISTIC                                                                              FANCY       BLUE WONDER                                         ______________________________________                                        Start of flowering                                                                          Early       Later                                               Flower size   3.5 to 4 cm 2.5 to 3 cm                                         Perianth color                                                                              90D         88B                                                 White band at petals'                                                                       Very small, Broad, conspicuous                                  base          sometimes                                                                     inconspicuous                                                   ______________________________________                                    

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Scaveola plant named Fancy, asillustrated and described.